Count Of Carabass made it successive wins for lady trainers at Limerick as he took the first split of the Croom Handicap under Chris Hayes for Hilary McLoughlin.

Half-an-hour on from Susan Finn's win with Youceeyouceecee 7/1 shot Count Of Carabass, also bred by Miss McLoughlin, benefited from a patient Hayes ride.

The Ad Valorem gelding responded well, coming from behind to lead in the final hundred and fifty yards, getting the better of William Ashford by a length.

"I was praying the rain would stay away as he wasn't able to act on heavy ground at Listowel," reported the winning Thurles-based handler.

"He needs to be ridden from behind and often gets into trouble as a result but I knew when he got out today that he'd go close. He could run again here on Saturday in an apprentice handicap and might have a winter break then."

(TW & EM)